"Rare antique circa 1910-1923 painted and gilded porcelain figurine titled Blumenmädchen or Flower Girl by Pirkenhammer Kunst-Abteilung of Czecholslovaki (Bohemia).  Marked Prof. W Gerstner and EFI, E. (Epiag) F. I. Mädchen mit Blumenkörben, Entwurf Prof. Wilhelm Gerstner, Fischer & Mieg, Pirkenhammer.

""Pirkenhammer is a porcelain manufactory started in 1803 by Friedrich Holke and Johann Gotlob List. The mark of the crossed hammers is the Pirkenhammer symbol.

The factory was located in a Bohemian village Pirkenhammer (Czech Brezova) near Karlovy Vary also known as Karlsbad. Untill 1811 it operated as Friedrich Höcke manufactory. In 1811 new owners Johann Martin Fischer and Christopher Reichenbach renamed it as Fischer & Reichenbach. Martin Fischer was a merchant, while Reichenbach was the technical director of the company.

Martin Fischer died in 1824. His widow Sophie Friederike started to run the business. In 1931 management of the factory was passed to Martin Fischer son, Christian.The company was recognised by a gold medal at the Vienna World fair in 1839.

In 1852 Christian's daughter Wilhelmine married her cousin Ludwig von Mieg. The company was now Fischer & Mieg. The artist André Carriére began to influence Pirkenhammer's style from 1868 when he became chief designer and the company invested in a studio for him in Paris in 1874. He worked for the company till the early 20th century. Next owners from 1908

were Wilhelm & Viktor Maier. In 1918, the factory was incorporated to the Group ""Epiag"".

In 1945 when the communist government nationalised all the Czecholslovakian porcelain factories. Pirkenhammer as Starorolský Porcelán and next Karlovarský

Porcelána became a centre for research and development.

Nowadays it acts as Manufaktura Pirkenhammer I.S. Original Porcelan Fabrik Březová s.r.o."""